Benefits in State and local government, 2001

Insurance costs were the single largest component of benefit costs, and accounted for 8.5 percent of total compensation. Health insurance comprised most of this figure.

Paid leave was the next largest component, at 7.8 percent. The two biggest components of paid leave were vacation pay and holiday pay.

Legally required benefits and retirement and savings benefits both accounted for just under 6.0 percent of the compensation of State and local government workers. Social Security costs accounted for the majority of the cost of legally required benefits.